CPS Emergency Meals Program

Every weekday, Cambridge Public Schools will be packing and distributing bagged breakfasts and lunches to locations throughout the city. Cambridge families who are facing food challenges are all welcome to pick up one bag per child/youth, regardless of Free/Reduced Price Lunch status.

Please complete the Meal Request Form every day to help us accurately plan and distribute meals.

Distribution Sites
Meals are distributed through the following locations:

We are actively working to add additional sites, including closer to the North Point/Museum of Science area. We hope to have a plan for this neighborhood by Tuesday. We are also looking into whether we can provide more targeted deliveries for families who may need assistance due a child’s disability or other special circumstances.

Process for Pick-ups:

Please come to the location most convenient for you

If your last name starts with A - M, please come at 12PM

N - Z, please come at 12:30PM

Parents/caregivers or students may pick up 1 breakfast bag and 1 lunch bag per child in the household

Please try to stay at a distance from others while awaiting your turn

If you’re sick, please respect the health of others by staying home and arranging for someone to pick up and bring to your door

How sites will operate:

Food will be prepared every weekday morning by Food & Nutrition Services staff

Food is being prepared in one CPS kitchen and will be delivered to sites by school bus

Tables and serving equipment will be sanitized and set-up daily

Volunteers organized by Food for Free will set food out on tables and step away

Volunteers will also help the pick-ups go smoothly, reminding people to maintain social distancing as much as possible

All individuals involved in preparing and food-pick up activities will follow proper hand-washing and other appropriate sanitary measures.

This is an extensive community-wide effort, and we have never tried to do this type of distribution of school meals before. Please be patient as we all learn how to do this effectively, safely and efficiently.

Availability & Options

This program was rolled out on an emergency basis. It will take time for our food orders to catch up, and this affects availability of some ingredients.

We will strive to accommodate requests but meal selection cannot be guaranteed at this time